Like lilies in a summer gloom, the new Abia under the dynamic leadership of Governor Alex Otti has been lustrous. Of a truth, the Abia ecosystem is glistening. Otti’s performance in the almost three years of his first tenure has radically given Abia State a new and positive image.
From infrastructure, transportation, education, healthcare, environmental cleanliness, generation of employment, youth empowerment, prompt payment of salary and pension among others, the governor is greatly transforming the state landscape. His stellar performance and uncommon giant strides in all spheres of the state’s economy are visible and noticeable even beyond the shores of the state.
Unsolicited, political figures, stakeholders, groups and even church leaders have not only been commending the governor for turning everything around for good in the state, but have endorsed him for second term in office come 2027. Their reason for sanctioning the continuation of the governor range from his intentional infrastructural development of the state, offering quality governance, building confidence and trust as well as bolstering the reputation of the state in the comity of states in the country and in the diaspora.
If the voices of persons like Senator Enyinnya Abaribe and Arch. Precious Okechukwu Nwagwu, to mention a few, and groups like Aba La Ohazu, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Àbia State Council of Community Chiefs/Heads, Forum of former Councilors in the state and a legion of others, echoing his reelection are considered to be partisan, what will be the conjecture of his endorsement by servants of the Most High God even from outside the state?
During a visit to the state in March, the Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Center, Dr. Paul Eneche highly commended Otti for what he termed ‘rapid transformation’ and urban renewal of the state. The clergy specifically pointed out the cleanliness of Aba and Umuahia, the state capital. Short of publicly vouching for Otti’s reelection, Eneche described him as a ‘gift to Àbia State’.
This was not so for the Catholic Bishops of Aba and Umuahia Dioceses respectively, Most Rev. (Prof.) Augustine Echema and Most Rev. (Dr.) Michael Kalu Ukpong. The two Catholic Bishops have separately eulogised the governor’s superlative performance and supported his being reelected in 2027.
Specifically, the Rev. Ukpong was frank and more direct in his support for Otti’s second term. Emphatically, the Catholic Priest stated: ‘… The Governor’s performance has already guaranteed his re-election in 2027. Those campaigning to take over are waisting time…’. He stressed that impossible things have become possible under Otti.
The loud voices and endorsements are indeed echoes of victory for Otti ahead the 2027 gubernatorial election. However, as the governor once said, it is the endorsement of God Almighty that will guarantee his re-election for a second term.
